Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum

American Beauties®

Native Woodland Perennial that Naturalizes, Bringing Spring Pink Blooms Year After Year
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 3-8
Grows 1-2 ft Tall, 1 ft Wide
Showy Purple, Pink Blooms From Late Spring to Early Summer
Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant

$35⁵⁹

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Plant Size

#1 Container

Product variants

Planting & Care

Where to Plant

Sunlight: Wild Geranium thrives in 4 to 6 hours of filtered sunlight or dappled shade. While it can handle more sun in cooler climates, providing afternoon shade in hotter regions prevents the delicate foliage from scorching or turning yellow.
Soil: This plant prefers rich, loamy soil that is high in organic matter. If you are dealing with heavy clay, mix in several inches of compost to improve drainage, as "wet feet" during the winter can lead to root rot.

Watering Requirements

During the first growing season, provide about one inch of water per week to help the root system establish itself deep in the soil. Once mature, Wild Geranium is quite drought tolerant, but inconsistent watering during high heat can cause the plant to go dormant early. To keep the foliage lush through the summer, maintain even moisture so the soil feels like a wrung out sponge.

Pruning Tips

Wild Geranium produces flowers on the new growth that emerges in early spring, so you should avoid cutting it back until the flowering cycle is complete. Think of pruning as a "refreshment" where you shear the foliage back by half after the blooms fade to encourage a flush of healthy new leaves. This technique prevents the plant from becoming leggy and helps control its spread if you prefer to limit self seeding.

Fertilizer Needs

Apply a light application of a balanced, slow release fertilizer or a layer of rich compost early in the spring as the first leaves poke through the soil. Avoid using high nitrogen fertilizers late in the summer season because this encourages tender green growth that is easily damaged by the first hard frost. A single spring feeding is usually enough to support vigorous blooming and healthy root development for the year.

Delivery and Shipping

Shipping Rates

Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected

Under $50	$9.99
$50 - $99.99	$14.99
$100 - $149.99	$16.99
$150 - $198.99	$24.99
$199+	FREE

✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee

Understanding Our Container Sizes

At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes

Quart

Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.

#1 Container

Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.

#2 Container

Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.

#3 Container

Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.

#5 Container and Larger

Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.

Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?

Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.

Root Pouch Containers

Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:

Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.

Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.

Full Root Pouch planting guide

Choosing the Right Size

Size	Plant Age	Best For
Quart	6 mo to 1 yr	Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings.
#1 Container	1 to 2 yrs	Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners.
#2 Container	2 to 3 yrs	Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment.
#3 Container	3 to 4 yrs	Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size.
#5 and larger	4+ yrs	Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact.

Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.

Plant specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Native, Low Maintenance, Flowering, Deer-resistant, Groundcover, Attracts pollinators, Container Friendly
Hardiness Zone	3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Sunlight	Full sun, Partial shade
Height	1-2 ft
Width	1 ft
Watering Needs	Moderate
Preferred Soil	Clay, Loamy, Peaty, Sandy
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Compact, Spreading
Plant Life Cycle	Annual, Perennial
Blooms In	Spring, Summer
Flower Color	Purple, Pink
Foliage Color	Green
Native	Yes
Suitable Space	Outdoors
Plant Name	Geranium
Botanical Name	Geranium maculatum
Species	maculatum
Class	Geraniales, Magnoliopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, HI, ID, MT, PR

Take a walk on the wild side! Forests and gardens alike look stunning with a Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) or two growing throughout. The color, easy-to-grow nature, and overall low maintenance of this plant will absolutely charm you!

Wild Geranium helps welcome spring each year with a host of pink to lilac-colored blooms blooming across the plant. You'd be hard-pressed to find a perennial bush that'll beat this one to bloom! Oh, and how beautiful they are. Each petal has dark veins running throughout that offer a lovely unique texture.

Your neighbors will be awestruck by the first hints of spring unfolding in your garden in the form of delightful pink blossoms. They won't be alone either! Pollinators such as butterflies will flutter to this early-season source of nectar!

A tough native plant with a wide hardiness range of USDA planting zones 3 to 8, native Geranium can spread politely by way of fleshy underground rhizome-like roots and from the seeds. Sometimes referred to as Cranesbill due to its interesting crane's head-shaped seed pods that can fill in the deciduous understory quickly.

Landscape Application:

Are there areas in your garden that could use a little ground cover? Wild Geranium creates a beautiful carpet along the forest floor and could do the same for parts of your garden without spreading very far. This specimen also looks lovely as accents in your native garden or as border additions!

Add to backyard meadows, mix among short grass prairie plantings, beneficial insects, and pollinator gardens, plant among other dappled understory settings, and woodland gardens. Wild Cranesbill Geraniums can still be found rambling through out-of-the-way areas and along roadsides and ditches.

Closer to home, these darling spring flowers can be tucked into Cottage gardens and Rock gardens alike! Container gardens, and mixed perennial borders to add a lacy ephemeral quality to your informal landscaping beds!

Their ability to spread politely makes Wild Geranium a great groundcover, en masse garden filler, and perfect for securing soil on steep slopes and slowing erosion. Wild Geranium is the perfect low-maintenance beauty to place in your naturalized garden!

Delicately Veined Pink Flowers With Lighter Centers
Early Season Blooming
Attracts Pollinators
Deeply Incised Fine-Textured Foliage
Great Red Fall Color
Woodlands, Meadows, Informal Gardens, Groupings, Understory & En Masse

#ProPlantTips for Care:

One of the best characteristics of this perennial is its easy-going nature! Wild Cranesbill will thrive in full sun or partial shade and grow in many different types of soils as long as it's well-drained. Wild Geranium appreciates regular watering as long as it doesn't stay wet for too long. Provide regular moisture access during their first year, but once established, should be self-sufficient unless you are experiencing a prolonged drought. 3-4 inches of arborist mulch helps support plant roots significantly!

While many flowering perennials need to be deadheaded regularly in order to keep a pristine look, Wild Geranium is just as happy to be left alone as they do not normally repeat bloom. That leaves more time for you to sit back, relax, and admire them.

Full Sun & Part Sun/Part Shade
Moderately Moist Soil
Any Well-Drained Soil Type
Prune Back Leaves Late Autumn/Early Spring
Deer & Rabbits Seldom Bother Geraniums

Darling native, the Wild Cranesbill Geranium's brilliant pink flowers will welcome spring's warming weather and bring in the bees and butterflies! Hurry and buy one or more as the finishing touches of your informal garden today from NatureHills.com!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What planting zones is Wild Geranium hardy in?

Wild Geranium is hardy in USDA planting zones 3 to 8. This tough native perennial can handle a wide range of climates, from cold northern regions to temperate southern areas. Plant it confidently in most areas of the continental United States.

Is Wild Geranium deer resistant?

Wild Geranium is generally deer resistant due to its native woodland origin and slightly fuzzy foliage texture. As a tough native perennial hardy in zones 3-8, it naturally evolved defenses against browsing animals. Plant it confidently in areas where deer are present, available at naturehills.com.

Does Wild Geranium require any special fertilizer or feeding?

Wild Geranium thrives without special fertilizers as a tough native perennial. This low-maintenance plant naturally adapts to various soil conditions across zones 3-8. A light application of compost in early spring is sufficient to support healthy growth and abundant blooms.

Will Wild Geranium spread or self-seed in my garden?

Wild Geranium spreads politely through underground rhizomes and self-seeds naturally. This native perennial will gradually form a beautiful carpet without becoming invasive in zones 3-8. Allow space for modest expansion, or divide clumps every few years to control spread.

Can Wild Geranium tolerate clay soil or does it need well-draining soil?

Wild Geranium adapts well to various soil types, including clay, making it an excellent choice for challenging garden spots. This hardy native (zones 3-8) thrives in woodland conditions where soils are often heavy and moisture-retentive. Shop at Nature Hills for this versatile groundcover that tolerates poor drainage better than most perennials.

Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum